Dartford Grammar School is a selective academy for boys, admitting girls to its sixth form. There are six forms of entry in each year group and all of the students joining the school are from the top 25% of the ability range. The students come from Dartford, neighbouring towns and villages, and nearby London boroughs. The current roll is 1,516 including 598 in the sixth form.

Ofsted Inspections The school has been identified five times by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector as one of England’s most successful schools, showing a sustained period of outstanding achievement.

Extra-Curricular Programme The school is exceptionally rich in extra-curricular activities. It offers 16 sports and competes with others in at least eight of them each year. Teams regularly gain county, regional and national success, and many students gain representative honours at one or more of these levels. The school achieves high standards in music, and has an orchestra, wind band, choir, chamber choir and many other ensembles. Drama productions are frequent.

The Performing Arts Faculty benefits from the facilities of the Mick Jagger Performing Arts Centre. There are many other clubs and societies, with debating always a popular activity. The school’s impressive programme of community service is regarded as a particular strength. The school benefits from many close links with Europe, China and Japan. There are regular overseas cultural and sports trips, and other international visits.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a notable strength: nearly all students in Year 10 complete the Bronze Award, with a majority going on to Silver. Gold Award expeditions take place in both the UK and overseas, while the school has also offered international trips via Operation Wallacea.

What the School Offers Teachers The school provides its staff with the experience of teaching able and well-motivated students in an environment with high expectations of behaviour and well-developed systems of teacher-support. The school has a national reputation for the quality of its programme of professional development. The programme includes much that falls within specific subject areas. Staff well-being is a priority in the school, and staff social occasions, staff football and staff tai-chi are all popular, as is our weekly staff breakfast on a Friday morning!

The school is committed to participation in initial teacher training. Other aspects include a course for Early Career Teachers, preparation for middle management, development of existing middle managers and preparation for senior management. While the school’s extensive programme of overseas visits give many staff international experience, the school ensures that its staff development has a further international dimension, for example in IB courses. Staff members have access to the school’s excellent facilities for sport and the performing arts.